Romans leaves base to chase history

Trainer seeks 2nd straight Arlington Million win in Ill.

Published 11:31 pm, Thursday, August 15, 2013

Dale Romans won the Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding trainer last year without having a memorable summer at Saratoga Race Course.

"It's just a tough meet," Romans said. "It's really tough."

Instead, Romans took home the Eclipse by capturing Grade I races all over the country, including the Arlington Million with a swift gelding named Little Mike.

Romans and Little Mike will try to become the first trainer and horse to win back-to-back runnings of the prestigious turf race on Saturday at Arlington Park in Illinois.

"It's always nice to make history," Romans said. "Nobody's ever done it. (Hall of Fame horse) John Henry couldn't even do it. So it'd be nice to do that."

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Romans left his barn on the Saratoga backstretch for Arlington on Tuesday night. He was followed by Little Mike.

Romans is having a quiet summer at the Spa with three victories, three seconds and two thirds in 26 starts.

"We've won a few races, a few seconds and thirds, picked up quite a bit of money ($238,923)," Romans said. "So I'm pretty happy. If we win a few more before we get out of there, things will be good."

Last summer, Romans had eight victories in 63 starts at Saratoga, tied for 10th place. His only stakes victory came with Quick Wit in the Grade II Racing Hall of Fame.

Romans more than compensated elsewhere, as Little Mike triumphed in the Arlington Million and Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita, and Dullahan prevailed in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Dullahan will defend his title in that Grade I race Aug. 25.

"You still have a base in Saratoga in the summer if you want to play with the big boys," Romans said.

Little Mike will take on the best at Arlington on Saturday, when a field of 13 enters the gate.

He drew the No. 11 post. Both Romans and jockey Joel Rosario feel Little Mike should avoid any traffic problems.

"He's a speed horse, and I think he's going to be fine with that," said Rosario, who will leave Saratoga to ride at Arlington.

Little Mike, a 6-year-old, hasn't won any of his three starts this year. He wrenched an ankle during a trip to Dubai in March, finishing eighth and 11th in two races there.

After a three-month layoff, he came in fourth in the Grade I United Nations at Monmouth on July 6. Little Mike led before weakening in the late stages and losing by 31/4 lengths.

He's the third choice in the Arlington Million at 3-1 on the morning line.

"He's acting like his old self," Romans said. "He's doing really good right now."

Little Mike never has run at Saratoga in 24 career starts, including 12 victories. He might not before he's retired, because the Arlington Million is a superior alternative to the Grade I Sword Dancer, a $600,000 race that's run at 11/2 miles on the same day.

"You don't know how many years he's going to be around, but anything's possible," Romans said. "If we ever felt like the Arlington Million wasn't the spot, then we'd show up there (at Saratoga)."